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Premier League African Star Quits International Football After Terror Attack Incidence

DR Congo and Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani has quit international football after his country&...

DR Congo and Norwich striker Dieumerci Mbokani has quit international football after his country's FA threatened to sanction him for missing last month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 30-year-old is on a season-long loan from Dinamo Kiev and scored his fifth goal of the season during an impressive performance which helped the Canaries to a crucial 3-2 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

That powerful display followed a concerning international break for the forward which saw him caught up in the recent terror attacks in Belgium.

The former Anderlecht striker revealed he owed his life to his wife’s decision to delay their arrival to Zaventem airport in Brussels, which was the scene for one of two bombings that killed 31 people and injured hundreds more on Tuesday, March 22.

Mbokani has quit international football after unfavourable treatment

Fortunately he was unharmed and looked set to continue on his journey to play for DR of Congo in two African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola.

However, renowned French sports newspaper L’Equipe have since reported that Mbokani asked for a few days to rest following the ‘trauma’ of being so close to the tragedy.

He reportedly told radio station Top Congo FM that he had spoken with national team coordinator Theo Binamungu but was then never called back to discuss the difficult situation.

Subsequently it is claimed that Congolese Football Federation president Constant Omari Selemani had threatened ‘sanctions’ for the player for failing to report for international duty.

Mbokani is quoted as saying: “I have had problems with the Federation all the time. This is the reason why I decided to stop with the national team. “I do not want to play for Congo. I believe I was given unfair treatment. Therefore, after a discussion with my family, my relatives, I decided to stop.”

The striker, who has an impressive record of 16 goals in 31 games for his country, missed a 2-1 home win and 2-0 away victory in Group B.